Manufacture of insulating-tubes.



No 858.884.. PATENTED JULY 2, 1907:

' E. HAEFELY. "MANUFAGTURE 0F INSULATING TUBES.

APPLIQATION FILED BEPT. 6. 1904.

22 hEFi-r s\\\ ,4... I/ 4%? 'tion and a pressure device, theaxis of which is parallel sa s M l-.NUFAUT URING COMPANY,

A GORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

mnu ussorcan or rnsussrruo 'rusns.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed September s, 190i. stun No. 223,442.

No. assess.

To all whom it inay concern:

Be it known that I, EMiIrTIAEFELY, a citizen of the Republic of Switzerland, residingat Basel, in Switzerland, have invented certain new anduseiul Improvemerits in the Manufacture of Insulating-Tubes, of which the fdllowiug is a specification.

My invention relates to the manufacture of insulatihg tubes and more particularly to machines-tor inanuiacturi ng insulating tubes of comparatively small 'diame; TBId.- The object of my inventionis to provide mean'swhich, shall be simple and compact in construction and durable and efficientin operation and a method bywhich insulating tubes may be produced which shallhave 1mportant'qualities and characteristics not heretoforapertraining to tubes manufactured by other means and other methods. 7 I The apparatus devised and utilized by me for manufactoring insulating tubes comprises a heated mandrel holder having a longitudinal recess of angular cross sec to thatoi the mandrel holder and one side or edge of wh rests upon the material of which the tube is formed in such manner that a constant and uniform pressure is exertedupon such material during the winding operation.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a view par. tially inside elevation and partially in section of the principal portionsoi a machine constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of a mandrel holder and means for heating the same, a portion being broken away to indicate that the said parts may be of greater length than is here shown. Fig; 3 is a cross sectional view of modified form of mandrel-holder.

Mounted in a suitable frame A is a mandrel holder a the ends oi which are closed and the length of which is approximately the same as the maximum length of tube which it is desired to prdduce. As here shown; the surface oi the mandrel holder at is provided with eight longitudinal recesses which are of. angular or substantially ll-shape in cross section and which extend the entire length of the holder, parallel to the axis thereof and are designated by the letters U and b, the recesses 11 being of the same shape and dimensions as the recess 1/ but alternating in position therewith. The interior of the mandrel 11010303 a communicates with the exterior by means of passages c which are uniformly spaced and the outei ends of which terminate in the recesses b. A gas pipe d extends through the interior of the mam drel holder a and is supported in the ends there'of,'suit-' able connections being made betweeu one end of the pipe and-a supply hose as indicated in Figl 2. Theund ide the gas pipe d is provided with a series of uni- Patented July 2, 19oz.

formly spaced branch tubes 3 which are closed attheir outer ends and are provided with lateral openings e.

Abo ve'the mandrel holder 0. is located a pressure device f which is here shown as provided with a plurality of longitudinal ribs F, the edges of which are slightly Vchaniered or beveled for a reason which will beherematter more fully set forth. The-pressure device j is 1 supported by a cross bar t which is free to move verti cally in guides provided in the standards "l of the frame'A, any suitable gearing or other means being providedior raising the said cross bar when the pressure device is not in use. In order that the pressure device work and'in order thatit may he brought into engagement and separated from the work without sudden shock, I provide a lost motion connection between it and the raising and lowering mechanism such mechanism being here indicated by a rod R, the lower end of which projects into a chamber 0 with which the cross a mandrel n of the proper size which rests in the upper recess b of the mandrel holder.

When using the machine above described in accordance with my invention, thegas cock G in thehose connection to the gas pipe (I is opened and the gas which escapes through; the openings e in the branch pipes sis may exert a constant and uniform pressure upon the.

lighted. The air required for supporting combustion is admitted through the passages c, the outer ends ofwhich are at the lower side of the mandrel holder a and the products of combustion escape through the passages c, the outer ends of which are at the upper side, of the mandrel holder, the heat generated within the mandrel holder being thus imparted with substantialuniformity to the outer or shell portion throughout its periphery and length. The products of combustion which issue from the upper right hand passages c serve to heat the frame portion I which is interposed between the in clined table 1 and the mandrel n so that the material iod to the mandrel may be heated to a desired temperature before reaching the mandrel.

As the paper or other fabric is drawn from the roll V over the table it is provided with a coating of varnish or other suitable binder and the free end is wound close around the mandrel either in the position in which the -mandrel is shown or, more conveniently, at the left of the pressure device as indicated in Fig. 1, after which is rotated at the speed desired, either mechanically or by hand, in a clockwise direction so as to apply the fabric with the varnish coating between successive layers. As soon as the single layei of material is wound upon the mandrel and the latter is placed in the recess bf the pressure device f is lowered until the entire weight of it and the bar 5 rests upoii the material on the mandrel. Inasmuch as the recess b is of angular or V-shape in crdss section and the pressure exerted from above is uniform and constant, the progressively increasing diameter. of the tube, as it is formed, does not effect any variation in the degree of density of the material; i

While the device manufactured by my machine may I consist-solely of paper or other suitable fabric and varnish, I prefer to combine mica therewith and, when so combined, thin sheets of mica are placed upon the coating of varnish as it passes to the mandrel.

, Inasmuch as the varnishis heated to alcomparatively high temperature in passing over the heated portion I oi the frame, all volatile constituents are driven off, leaving a layer of uniform consistency and without air bubbles or other particles which might serve to impair the quality of the insulating tube when completed. Onaccount or the continuously applied uniform pressure, no varnish in excess of the amount required as a binder can remain upon the fabric as it is wound upon the mandrel and a tube of absolute uni iormi ty as to consistencyzmd dimensions and having extraordinary insulating qualities and durability is therefore produced.

In the modification shown in the Fig. 3 thcmandrel holder a is provided with a plurality of angular-1y disposed ribs 10 which form between them the angular recesses b',\lilcc those shown in Fig. 1. For the purpose of supplying the necessary air to promote combustion and in order to permit of the escape of the products of combustion, openings or passages a; are provided at regular intervals between the ribs 10. I

It will be understood from the illustration and the foregoing description that only one of the angular recesses b is utilized for the reception of a mandrel at any one time and that the form of the mandrel holder may be varied Within wide limits without. departing from-my invention so long as it is provided with an angular longitudinal recess for the reception of mandrcls oi different diameters and also with suitable means for applying the necessary heat, whether such means bogas fiar11es,|as indicated, or electricity or steam. It is to be under stood, however, that whether the mandrel holder be of general cylindrical contour and whether it be provided with one or sevcral longitudinal angular recesses, it should be so formed as to present material of substantially uniform thickness throughout its periphery and length in order that it may not be warped by the application of heat. I have learned from practical cxperience, extending over a long period of time, that in order to obtain a product that shall. be uniform in dimensions as well as in density, the mandrel holder must be of substantially uniform contour so as to avoid the distortion they are of di fierent thickness. The shape of the outer edge of the rib here indicated is not absolutely essential but in order to secure the desired application of pressure and avoid any possible injury to the material as it is moved beneath 31nd in contact with the rib surface, it is desirable that the edge toward which the material moves shall be cut away in some manner and the shape here shown is perhaps more practical than. any other, since it not only permits the free passage of the material without danger of injury but it is also easily and cheaply formed and insures the application of pressure substantially along a single line, thus providing three lines of pressure approximately 120". apart, which I have found best adapted for this work.

The details or construction maybe otherwise modified or added to without departing from my invention and I therefore desire to include within the scope of my claims all variations and modifications which are not excluded by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A machine for manufacturing insulating tubes comprising a mandrel holder provided with u longitudinal groove of angular cross section to receive a mandrel upon which a coated fabric is wound, a pressure devicelocated above said mandrel and supported upon the outer layer of fabric during the winding operation.

2. A machine for manufacturing insulating tubes comprising; n mandrel, a longitudinally recessed mandrel holder, pressure device that rests upon the material wound upon said mandrel and means for limiting the inn-- tcrial as it passes to said mandrel and is wound thcrcon.

3. A machine for manufacturing insulating tubes com prising u mandrel. :1 mandrel holder having a longitudinal recess in which the mandrel is rotated, a pressure device that is supported upon the layer of material wound upon the drum, and means [or licnllngthe material during the winding operation.

4; A machine for manufacturing insulating tubes comprising a mandrel upon which coated fabric is wound, a

mandrel holder having a. longitudinal recess ofnngular cross section in which the maudrcl is rotated, a pressure device located above the mandrel and resting upon the tube during the winding operation and means for heating the material as it is wound.

5. In a machine for manufacturing tubes, the combinatlou wltli a mandrel and a holder having a longitudinal recess to receive the mundrcl, of menus for feeding a sheet of fabric to the mundrcl and a pressure device which exerts a constant and downward pressure upon the material on said mandrel and means for heating the muterinl us it passes to and is wound upon said mandrel.

6. in a machine for manufacturing tubes, the comblnation wlth a rotatable mandrel and n-mandrel holder having a longitudinal angular recess to receive the mandrel, of means for fecding sheet material to said mandrel and a vertically adjustable pressure device that engngcs the surface of the material as it is wound upon the mandrel and the weight of which is entirely supported by such muteriul, and means for heating the material as it passes to and is wound upon the mandrel.

T. in a machine for manufacturing tubes, the combination with a cylindrical mandrel and a hollow mandrel holder llavlu lateral passages leading from its interior to its exterior and having a heating device located therein, of means for feeding sheet fabric to the mandrel and a pressure device that exerts a constant and uniform downward pressure upon. the tube as itls formed uponifhe mandrel.

8. In. a machine for manufacturing tubes, the combination with a frame, a mandrel holder having a longitudinal recess of angular cross section and having internal lltlllt lng means, of a mandrel adapted to rcst in said recess, means for feeding sheet material to said mandrel to be wormd around the same and a pressure device which exerts a downward, uniform and constant pressure upon the tube during its formation.

9. In a machine for manufacturing .tdhes from sheet material, the combination with a frame and a hollow, internally heated mandrel holdec'su'pported therein, ,of a mandrel adapted to receive the sheet material to form the tube and to rest upon said mandrel holder, of a pressure device which rests upon the material as it is wound upon the mandrel and exerts a constan't'and uniform pressure, thiereon. 1

10. in a machine for manufacturing tubes,- the combination with a frame and a hollow, internally heated mandrel holder, having a plurality of ang lar, longitudinal t ecesses in its outer surface and lateral passages between its interior and some of the external recesses, of a cylin dricai mandrel adapted to be received in one of said recesses, means for feeding sheet materiaLto said mandrel to he wound thereon and a pressure device which exerts a downward, constant and uniform pressure upon the-material as it is wound upon the mandrel.

11. In amachine for manufacturing tubes from sheet material, the combination with a mandrel and a mandrel holder, and means for heating the same, the material of the holder being so disposed as to be uniformly heated, of means for feeding sheet material 'to the mandrel and a pressure device which exerts a constant and uniform downward pressure upon the material as it is wound upon the mandrel and along a single line of contact.

12. In a machine for manufacturing tubes from sheet material, the combination with a mandrel, a hollow mandrei holder having a plurality of longitudinal angular recesses and internal heating means, of means for feeding sheet material to said mandre'ito be wound thereon and a pressure device having a longitudinal rib-provided with a beveled outer edge to engage the material on the mandrel as the mandrel is rotated. v 13. In a machine for manufacturing tubes, the combination with a mandrel holder, a frame having a guide plate adjacent tosaid hoIder of'means for heating said mandrel holder and said guide plate, a mandrel supported by said holder adjacent to one edge of said guide plate,

ceases rests upon the material as it means for feeding sheet materiai to said mandrel and a pressure'devlce that rests upon the material as it is wound upon the mandrel.

14 The combination with a hollow mandrel holder having a plurality of exterior longitudinal recesses of angular cross section and having lateral passages between the interior and some of said recesses, of a gas burner in the interior of said mandrel holder, the supporting frame of said holder having a guidefplate adjacent to the holder and heated by the gas burner, therein,

a mandrel located inthe uppermost recess in the holder, means for feeding sheet fabric to said mandrel 15. In a machine for manufacturing tubes, the combination with a longitudinally recessed mandrel holder and a frame iuwhich said holder is-supported, of a mandrel fre ely'supported in the holder recess, means for feeding sheet fabric to said mandrel, a pressure device normally and a pressure device umpis wound upon the mandrel,"

resting freely upon the materiaiias it is wound upon the mandrel and means for raising the pressure device when.

it is desired to remove the mandrel anda, tube formed thereon, said means comprising a hection.

16. In a machine for manufacturing tubes, the combination with a cylindrical mandrel, a mandrelhoider having a longitudinal angular recess to receive-said mandrel, and a frame having a of means for heating the mandrel holder means for feeding to said mandrel, and a pressure device the weight of which is supported by said mandrel and the material wound thereon.

ln testimonywhereof I specification in the presence of two s and guide plate,

guide plate adjacent to said holder,

the sheet material over said guide plate lost motion spring coa 

